Kate Middleton pays tribute to Princess Diana at a ceremony in London

Kate, Princess of Wales, attended the National Memorial Service at the Cenotaph War Memorial in London. On Sunday, November 8, she paid tribute to the memory of British and Commonwealth citizens who died in the wars, along with other members of the royal family. The annual ceremony is traditionally held on the second weekend of November.

For the special event, Princess Kate chose Collingwood pearl earrings, which previously belonged to Princess Diana. According to The Crown Chronicles, this jewelry set was presented to Lady Diana Spencer by the London house Collingwood & Co. as a wedding gift in 1981. Kate Middleton herself first appeared in these earrings in public only six years after her own wedding — in 2017 at a state banquet in honor of the King of Spain.

The image of the princess was complemented by a brooch with the image of three poppies. According to Harpers Bazaar and Express, there is a strong opinion among experts and the media that this jewelry is a tribute to the three brothers of the princess's great-grandmother, Olive Middleton. Francis, Maurice and Lionel Lupton fought and died during the First World War. Although there has been no official confirmation of this symbolism from Buckingham Palace, the princess regularly uses this accessory at commemorative events.

"On Memorial Day, we remember those who gave their lives in service and reflect on the enduring significance of their sacrifice. We remember them today and always. May we not forget them," the Prince and Princess of Wales said in an official message on their social media account. The publication also highlights the importance of protecting the freedom to which military personnel devote themselves.

During the service, King Charles III and Prince William laid wreaths at the memorial. According to The Independent, the monarch led the ceremony wearing the uniform of a field marshal, while the Prince of Wales attended in the uniform of a lieutenant colonel of cavalry. Princess Kate watched from the balcony of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with Queen Camilla. The ceremony included the traditional two-minute minute of silence, which began at 11 a.m. local time.

On Saturday, November 7, Kate and William also attended the annual Royal British Legion Memorial Festival at the Albert Hall. For this occasion, the princess chose a black polka dot dress with a belt, while Prince William chose a classic navy suit with a striped tie.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were absent from the official events of the royal family in London. Despite returning to the UK at the end of August and information about living in the Cotswolds, as reported by The Independent, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain unemployed family members. This status excludes their participation in the official state protocol at the Cenotaph.

Prince Harry celebrated Memorial Day separately. He privately attended a service in the small town of Brackley in Northamptonshire. The Duke of Sussex was in a crowd of locals, dressed in a civilian suit with military medals attached and a traditional poppy on his lapel. During the visit, he communicated with the participants of the ceremony and local residents.

The poppy symbol has been used to perpetuate the memory of military personnel since 1921. It is believed that this tradition is associated with John McCray's famous poem "In the Fields of Flanders." In the UK, paper and metal badges in the form of poppies are distributed by the Royal British Legion. The funds raised during this campaign are used to support war veterans and their families.